Seal.



V PATENTED MAY19, 1908.

J. G. DAVIS.

SEAL.

APPLIOATIONIILED JULY 16. 1907.

INVENTOR,

I V/ TNESSES W A TTORNE 1 5 IHE NORRIS PETERS C0,, WASHINGTON, 1::v c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CLAYTON DAVIS, OF HARBOR BEACH, MICHIGAN.

SEAL.

-Harbor Beach, in the county of Huron and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Seal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seals for use upon car doors although they may be used wherever seals of this character are required.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction of devices of this character and to provide means whereby the strap of the seal may be firmly locked against longitudinal movement so that it becomes imp ossible to, in any manner, work the strap loose.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the seal; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the seal and showing the first position assumed by the parts when the free end of the strap is inserted into the casing, said strap being shown by dotted lines out of engagement with the casing; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the second position assumed by the strap and locking member so as to absolutely prevent the strap from being worked out of engagement with the locking member; Fig. 4 is a section on line :2cw Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the locking member; and Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modified form of locking member.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 is a strap preferably of sheet metal and of any desired proportions, said strap being provided at one end with an integral casing section 2 having a flange 8 therearound. This flange is adapted to engage the flange 4 formed around a casing section 5, said casing section being. provided at one end with an integral tongue 6 which extends into the casing formed by the members 2 and 5, and has an integral guide plate 7 formed along one edge and extending over the tongue. Loosely mounted between the casing section 5 and the tongue 6 is a slide 8 formed of spring metal and having an integral looking finger 9 struck therefrom and folded upon itself to form a bowed locking tongue 10. When the parts are in their normal positions Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 16, 1907.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Serial No. 384,090.

I the free end of the tongue 10 is disposed beneath the tongue 6, as shown in Fig. 2, and with the free end of the finger 9 extending across the interior of the casing. An opening 11 is formed within one end of the casing directly above the tongue 6 and is adapted to receive the free end of the strap 1, said strap end being provided with a pair of openings 12. The two sections of the casing are of course connected in such a manner as to prevent them from being detached, this connection being preferably effected by placing flange 3 in engagement with the flange 4 and crimping them together.

When it is desired to fasten the free end of the strap 1 within the casing after the same has been passed through a staple or other device to which the seal is to be secured said free end of the strap is inserted through the o ening 11 and slides along the tongue 6 until it contacts with the trans versely extending finger 9. The pressure of the strap against this finger will cause the finger and the slide 8 to movelongitudinally within the casing and therefore the end of the spring tongue 10, as soon as it passes from under the tongue 6, will spring into one of the openings 12. The end of the strap is then forced further into the casing until the free end of the finger 9 at its point of junction with the tongue 10 springs into the other opening 12. The parts will then as sume the positions shown in Fig. 3 and it is obvious that it will be impossible to disengage the strap from the locking member. Any inward movement of the end of the strap tends to force the tongue 10further through the opening 12 in which it is located, and any reverse movement of the strap end causes a corresponding movement of the finger 9 within the aperture 12 in which it is located. It will be seen that this locking member constitutes a very efficient means for holding the strap against withdrawal from the casing. Moreover, the entire seal can be constructed at comparatively slight cost, the complete device being made in three pieces, to wit, the casing section 2 and the strap, the casing section 5 and the tongue 6, and the locking member.

Instead of forming the locking member in the manner shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the same may be made as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the slide 13 has two oppositely extending s ring tongues 14 struck therefrom, the same eing adapted to operate in the samemanner as the finger 9 and the tongue 10. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the tongue 10 may be provided with an auxiliary tongue 10 designed to lap the inserted end of the strap and to positively hold the parts against separation. The tongues 14 shown in Fig. 6 can also be provided with tongues 14 for the same purpose. As shown in Fig. 6, the slide 13 can also have integral side guards 13 to prevent the insertion of a tool or other object into the seal to disengage the tongues.

In order that the tongues of the slidable member 8 may be held in proper position to engage the inserted end of the strap a longitudinal groove 2 is preferably struck into the casing section 2 to constitute a guide for the tongues. The casing sections are preferably formed by drawing the tin or other material of which they are constructed in dies. The cost of production is thus greatly reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. A seal comprising a casing, a strap extending therefrom and having an end insertible into the casing, a slide within the casing, and oppositely extending stra engaging devices movable with the sli e for successively engaging the inserted end of the strap to limit its movement in opposite directions.

2. A seal comprising a casing, a strap extending therefrom and having an end insertible into the casing, a slide within the casing, and oppositely extending spring devices movable with the slide for successively and non-detachably engaging the inserted end of the strap.

3. A seal comprising a casing, a strap extending therefrom and having one end insertible into the casing, a slide within the casing, oppositely extending spring members movable with the slide, and means for holding one of said members out of the path of the inserted strap end, said menbers being adapted to successively and non-detachably engage the inserted end of the strap.

4. A seal comprising a casing, a strap extending therefrom and having an apertured end insertible thereinto, .a slide within the casing, and oppositely extending spring devicesupon the slide for successively projecting through the respective apertures.

5. A seal comprising a casing, a strap extending therefrom and having an apertured end insertible thereinto, a guide tongue within the casing, longitudinally movable o positely extending locking devices within t e casing, one of said devices being initially dis osed in the path of the inserted stra end, an the other device being initially he d out of said path by the guide tongue, said devices being adapted to successively engage the respective apertures within the strap.

6. A seal comprising a casing, a strap having an apertured end insertible into the easing, a guide tongue within the casing, a slide within said casing, and oppositely extending spring devices movable with the slide, one of said devices being disposed initially in the path of the inserted strap end, and the other device being held initially by the guide tongue out of said path.

7. A seal comprising a sectional casing, a strap integral with one of the casing sections and having an apertured end insertible into the casing, a guide tongue integral with the other casing section and disposed within the casing, and a locking member slidably mounted within the casing and comprising a slide and oppositely extending spring locking devices.

8. A seal comprising a casing, a strap extending therefrom and having an end insertible into the casing, a slide within the casing, oppositely extending spring devices movable with the slide for successively and non-de'tachably engaging the inserted end of the strap, and an auxiliary strap engaging tongue upon one of said spring devices.

9. A seal comprising a casing, a strap extending therefrom and having an end in sertible into the casing, a slide within the casing, oppositely extending spring devices movable with the slide for successively and non-detachably engaging the inserted end of the strap, an auxiliary strap engaging tongue upon one of said spring devices, and guards upon opposite edges of the slide.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CLAYTON DAVIS. Witnesses:

D. M. DAVIS, HARRY I. LAHR. 

